How benefits will be paid
Council tenant
Housing Benefit will be paid directly to your rent account.
Private landlord, or a Housing Association
Housing Benefit can be paid either directly to yourself or to your landlord. The person who receives the payment is known as the payee.
If you have asked for Housing Benefit to be paid to you, it will be paid directly into your bank account weekly, one week in arrears.
Payments made directly to the landlord, will be paid directly into their bank account 4-weekly, 4 weeks in arrears. We usually have to pay your Housing Benefit straight to your landlord if you owe them eight weeks rent or more. In addition, we may decide that it is in your best interests to pay your Housing Benefit directly to your landlord.
Council Tax Benefit
We pay Council Tax Benefit directly to your Council Tax account. Once the benefit has gone on to your account, the Council Tax section will send you a revised bill to show you how much Council Tax you still have to pay.
Important note:
It is very important to remember that, if the amount of Housing Benefit we are paying does not cover all your rent, and/or the amount of Council Tax Benefit we’re paying doesn't cover all your Council Tax, you are responsible for ensuring that your rent and/or Council Tax is paid in full.
- For more information about claiming extra help with your Housing costs, go to Discretionary Housing Payments.
